About the Author
Lisa Steele
Articles by Lisa Steele
10 Tips for Fermenting Chicken Feed
Have you given any thought to how fermenting chicken feed can benefit your flock of backyard chickens? Fermenting is all the rage nowadays, both in people foods (think yogurt, sauerkraut, sourdough bread, buttermilk, kimchi, apple cider vinegar, even beer and wine!) and chicken diets as well, although the process has been used for hundreds of years as a food preservation method.
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Alternatives to Culling Chickens
My oldest chicken is eight years old. She still manages to pop out a handful of eggs a year, but they’re usually wrinkled and a bit misshapen with thin shells. She certainly isn’t winning any awards for egg production and we can’t rely on her for breakfast any longer!
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Winter Feed Supplements
Just as in human diets, excess fat in your chickens’ diet should be limited to prevent unhealthy weight gain and health issues, but when it comes to providing an energy source for your flock through the winter, you just can’t beat it.
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Preventing Frozen Chicken Eggs
Here are some cold weather egg tips that might help prevent cracked or fully frozen chicken eggs this winter.
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Can Chickens Eat Cranberries?
It’s the holidays and cranberries are everywhere. Can chickens eat cranberries? Yes. They make a great treat by themselves or mixed in other recipes.
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Holiday Treat Garlands For Chickens
‘Tis the season to string popped corn and cranberries and hang them on the trees outside for a tasty winter treat for the wild birds. While you’re at it, why not make some edible treat garlands for your chickens too?
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Six Winter Keeping Tips for Backyard Chickens
Many people ask: Do chickens need heat in winter? The answer is backyard chickens are far more cold-hardy than you may imagine. Courtesy of fall molting, chickens should have a full set of new fluffy feathers for winter that will keep them perfectly comfortable in temperatures down to 40 degrees and just fine well below freezing, assuming they are in good health.
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A Guide to Duck Shelters for Winter
With their double coat of waterproof feathers over thick, warm fluffy down and a layer of body fat, ducks (regardless of duck breeds) are exceedingly cold-hardy. They love being outdoors year-round in most climates, perfectly happy playing in the rain and even the snow.
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Protein-Packed Smoothies for Molting Chickens
The shorter days heading into fall will usually find the backyard chicken keeper with a flock of molting chickens. Chickens losing feathers during autumn should be no cause for concern.
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Can Chickens and Ducks Live Together?
“Can chickens and ducks live together?” is one of the most common questions I get from readers. Since I’ve been raising my chickens and ducks in the same coop and run for years, my answer is always yes, but I do have a few cautions if you’re considering a mixed flock.
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